“It’s nice here. I’ve been here, in Russell, for about two years now. I live next door to that church over there. I don’t attend it but I do get the word because he puts that big box (speaker) out there for everyone to hear. It’s pretty nice and laid back, I like it. I don’t like that I don’t have a washer and dryer but other than that, it’s been nice.

I’ve been in the West End all my life. I use to live in the California neighborhood, on Prentice. That’s where I was born and raised. Coming up was good, you know that old school stuff. It wasn’t like it is now - it’s crazy now. There’s no hopscotch, hide n’ seek, or jump rope. That was good stuff. Maybe, we just need to do it with the kids. Sometimes, we’re not taking the time out to do it with them. I had it good, growing up. I guess I’m old-timey.

Living here has been positive. Growing up in the West End, I learned how to respect people. We got along with each other and because of that, it’s made me a good person. Now, it seems like people can be so hateful towards one another. We just need to love one another. It always seems like we don’t like each other. We just kill each other and it’s grimy.

When I lost my mama, it made me grow up. That impacted my life in a big way. I was always with her. She was living with me. People thought that I couldn’t make it on my own but I could. I took care of her but we took care of each other but I had to get out on my own. I had to learn how to really be by myself. That was life changing for me. I had to grow up and be a woman. She died in March 2011. That was life-changing. It’s a blessing to still have your mom because you’ll miss them every day when they’re gone.” - Teresa, Russell